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In Hornsey the course of the New River has lost most of
its former beauty, [???] years ago the river flowed " from the
direction of Wood Green parallel with Nightingale Lane, crossed
Priory Road opposite the end of the lane and, inclining to the east,
immediately crossed the end of Middle Lane, proceeding through
the gardens of the ' Three Compasses,' then returning, re-crossed
the main road first below the Rectory gardens, and describing
an arc once again crossed the road below the church near the
present railway bridge. The wandering stream, flanked by some
fine old trees, gave great life and beauty to the village, which,
crowned as it was by the ivy-covered tower of the old church
and backed by the rising ground of Muswell Hill and Highgate
Woods, was noted for its picturesque beauty, and was a very
great attraction to visitors who flocked to the numerous tea
gardens in the neighbourhood during the summer season." Just
after emerging from the railway arch the New River flows into
the apex of a small triangular basin, which feeds Hornsey storage
reservoir and the continuation of the river from its eastern end.
Hornsey reservoir covers about eight acres and holds 8.5 million
gallons or less than a day's supply (109 million gallons) from
these works. There are also eight slow sand filters, covering
nearly six acres. Campsbourne Well, the last of the New River
Wells, is situated at the Hornsey Works, and the water may be
pumped either into the New River or into the filtered water tank.
There is no more fitting description of the task accomplished
by Sir Hugh Myddelton than this—
" An immortal work: since men cannot more nearly imitate
the Deity, than in bestowing Health."
POPULATION, BIRTHS AND DEATHS.
Population.—The estimated population at the middle of
1927 was 90,000. The Registrar-General's estimate M as 86,810—
a decrease of 881 on the Census figure of 1921. It is highlyimprobable
that the population of Hornsey has diminished in the
past seven years, as a considerable number of new houses have
been built, including the Council's new housing estate of 427
houses at Muswell Hill, and many houses have been divided into
flats.